Here are some straightforward projects you can build to demonstrate application administrator skills:

Patch Management Dashboard Create a simple web-based tracker that monitors which systems need patches. You could use a basic HTML/React interface where you manually log server names, current patch levels, last update dates, and patch status. Include a color-coded system (red for critical/overdue, yellow for upcoming, green for current). This shows you understand patch tracking workflows even if you're simulating the data.

VM Health Check Script Write a script (Python or PowerShell) that checks basic VM health metrics like disk space, memory usage, CPU utilization, and uptime. Have it generate a simple report or send an alert when thresholds are exceeded. You can run this against VMs you set up locally using VirtualBox or VMware Workstation Player (both free).

Mock Incident Response Log Build a troubleshooting documentation system where you create realistic incident scenarios and document your resolution steps. Include things like "Application won't start after Windows update - investigated event logs, found service dependency issue, resolution steps taken." This demonstrates your troubleshooting methodology and documentation skills.

Simple Update Automation Create a script that automates basic system updates on a test VM. For Linux, this might be a bash script that runs apt or yum updates on a schedule. For Windows, a PowerShell script that checks for and installs updates. Document the scheduling, error handling, and rollback procedures.

Virtual Lab Environment Set up a small home lab with 2-3 VMs running different OS versions (Windows Server, Ubuntu, CentOS). Document the setup process, create snapshots before making changes, practice rolling back after "failed" updates, and keep maintenance logs. This gives you hands-on talking points for interviews.

These are all achievable in a weekend or two and give you concrete examples to discuss. Would you like me to elaborate on any of these?

Great choice! Let's build that Patch Management Dashboard. I'll walk you through it step by step.

What we're building: A web dashboard where you can track servers/systems, their current patch levels, when they were last updated, and their status. It'll have a clean interface with color coding so you can quickly see what needs attention.

Step 1: Set up the basic structure

I'll create a single HTML file that includes everything - the interface, styling, and functionality. This makes it super easy to run - you just open the file in your browser, no installation needed.

Perfect! I've created your Patch Management Dashboard. Here's what you've got:

Features:

• Stats cards at the top showing counts for Critical, Updates Needed, Up to Date, and Total Systems
• Add system form where you can input server details
• Color-coded table that displays all your systems
• Delete functionality to remove systems

How to use it:

1. Save the file: Copy the code from the artifact above and save it as patch-dashboard.html on your computer
2. Open it: Double-click the file to open it in your web browser
3. Start adding systems: Fill in the form with example data like:
   • System Name: "WEB-SERVER-01"
   • OS Version: "Windows Server 2022"
   • Patch Level: "KB5034441"
   • Last Updated: Pick a date
   • Status: Select from the dropdown

For your interview/portfolio:

• Add 10-15 realistic entries with a mix of statuses
• Take a screenshot showing the dashboard in action
• Be ready to explain how this helps prioritize patching work (critical systems first)
• Mention how in a real environment, this could pull data from WSUS, SCCM, or other patch management tools

Want me to help you think through what realistic server names and patch levels to add, or would you like to enhance this with additional features?